Sunday, December 30, 2007

For my last post of the year, just a short note to say thanks for your support. We know that if a tree falls in the woods, and there is no one within earshot, it still makes a sound. Right?

If you blog, and no one reads it, did you really blog?

Nope.

Well, I know that over 600 unique visitors stopped by in just December. The biggest month since March 2007. I know your time is valuable, so I really do appreciate each and every one of you that took time out of your day to stop by.

Do let me know what I can to help you reach your goals in the coming year.

Apple Wins the Supply Chain RaceHow? The short answer: People. The right People. But it was not all Steve Jobs. Ever heard of Tim Cook and his $500,000 sign on bonus?apple-supply-chain-circa-1999.html-skitag: Tim Cook

One of my Heroes: re-founder of the Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle company. Dan made a good run at it, and produced the Super X V-Twin in 1999 and 2000. Then the "dot com meltdown" dried up the capital markets. I owed #847 and spent a great Fourth of July in 2006 with Dan. On our bikes, of course.

A fairly new post, but with a lot of action. Which is good. As Zig Ziglar says, "Nothing happens until someone sells something!"

I keep forgetting to ask Justin Roth-Marsh if he feels as strongly as I do, that the sales manager cannot effectively be the marketing manager? At least not once a company is up and running. A large amount of focus is required on vary different tasks, in order to do each function properly.

Lifted from the pages of Purple Curve Effect, this post from June is number nine on the hit parade. It has helped that it is a link on WWW.THROUGHPUT.US, but it was still popular even before that reference.

As I have mentioned, Seth Godin's book "The Dip" opened my eyes on a number of fronts. Among them, the power of being first or second in a market (ala Jack Welch while guiding GE).

Consider the "dream" on this list of success factors the vanilla ice cream of tips.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Ever been busy? Speaking of blogs that I read, Jonathan Schwartz is one. He is CEO of Sun. Well, it has been a few weeks since I took time to see what he was sharing. This post about the differences in customers is good. Very good. Maybe even profound.

They had two rooms full of customers. CTOs in one room. CIOs in another. He are a couple of observations from the CEO that are huge for Sun:

Not a single company in the CTO room paid for software. Many knew Sun exclusively from our work in the open source or academic arena - validating free communities as a vehicle to meet new opportunities, before they join the Fortune 100.

In contrast, not a single company in the CIO room allowed free software without a commercial support contract. Not one. Validating the notion that for more mature/diverse companies, the cost of downtime dwarfs the cost of a support contract.

What do you know about your customers? I would wager that regardless how much you know, there is a lot more that you do not know. Maybe even the 80/20 rule.

The best way to generate throughput in at least 80% of the businesses that I come in contact with, is to help them solve their customers' problems. "Find a need and fill it" is so much easier when you partner with your customer to address their real challenges.

As Schwartz correctly points out, "Which is both the challenge and the opportunity."

Mike Murdock has long stated that you get paid based on the size of the problems you solve in life. Not getting paid enough? Solve tougher issues.

One way to do that, is to base your pay on results. It is my hope that the shear size of the numbers involved get your attention. And hold your attention long enough to encourage you to investigate my message more than just a brief encounter.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

I find myself turning to this book again (and again, and again...). It is that good. If producing results are important to you. This morning over coffee, I re-discovered this nugget:

"I've got a simplistic way of looking at success in business. I believe all major corporate problems stem from inadequate revenue."

Jon goes on to say:

"I've never seen a company in trouble from having too much revenue."

Well said. Profound. In fact, if that is truly your problem (too much revenue), I cannot help. However, if your organization is suffering from the inverse, give me a call.

-ski

P.S. Especially if you are trying to get your projects back on schedule. Project Management is as much art as it is science, allow me to share a technique known as "critical chain" with you and your organization. If due date performance is a four letter word around your office, call me today!

Monday, December 24, 2007

A great mentorI do not know Holtz personally. Only by his deeds. With him at the helm of Notre Dame, I allowed my son to become a fan. I have always been a fan of the man. This post on the LeadershipNOW blog is another fact that I did not know, but rings very true with those stories that I hold dear to my heart.Throughput is simply a matter of setting a goal, and applying (a lot of) focus.It was a great pleasure to watch a bowl game a number of years ago, when Holtz and the Gamecocks sent Ohio State and Cooper packing. It is my understanding Cooper was good at raising funds. That still does not explain his tenure at OSU as head coach of one of the greatest entities in college sports. I stopped cheering for my then (I grew up in Ohio) favorite college team when Cooper was given his first contact renewal. As I recall, he had not beaten Michigan and did not get us to the Rose Bowl. Why renew his contract? Politics? Fund raising skills?Ohio State University lost site of the goal for a head coach: winning football games!And in those days, we felt a God-given right to go to the Rose Bowl every year. Another icon sent that message loud and clear: Woody Hayes.Lou Holtz has always understood the goal. But he has never compromised. This wiki entry is just one example of the man I consider to be the greatest football coach ever:Lou Holtz wiki entry
My hat is off to the LeadershipNOW blog for granting me yet another vantage point into the thought processes of one of America's icons. A mentor worthy of further study.-ski

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Time is running out, so I made a contribution directly to the fund. Consider selecting the, "AIDS in Africa, inspired by (RED)" option on the donation form. Regardless of their religion or business philosophy, most of my adult life, I have read stories and met people that tithe. As in "give a tenth" of their gross income away.

It is a principal. A universal law. Give and it shall be given.

Consider making a donation via one of the (RED) products, or directly to the Global fund. As they say, "no amount is too small." What a great way to start the new year!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Business can involve a lot of moving parts. It helps to have smart friends, especially when constraints move (and they will!).

At some point, sooner or later, your constraint will move to the other side of the line. The line that I ask every business owner to draw in the sand. The one where I instruct them to consider this remark carefully:

"Look at the line. Every business in America (probably the world, but I cannot say) has just one constraint. One constraint worthy of my attention. Worthy of your attention. On the left, the "internal" constraint. On the right, the "external" constraint. Which is your constraint?"

Pretty simple, right? For a reason. Boyd's OODA Loop. But I digress.

When (not if) your constraint becomes external, you will need help. Justin Roff-Marsh and Ballistix kinda help. I had a good friend and business colleague tell his staff this week that my forwarding this notice to him was the spark he needed to take another look at my recommendation (to investigate Justin's organization's breakthrough in Sales Process Engineering).

Friday, December 21, 2007

First things first (disclaimer): I am compensated for my efforts in the promotion of TMx.

When Tony Rizzo calls, I make every effort to take the call. Regardless of my other activities. He rarely finds it necessary to call without emailing first, to see what time might work best.

A few months ago, Rizzo called out of the blue, and wanted me to apply some of my eCommerce expertise to a problem he was facing. I told a bit of the story in this TV talk show interview with good friend Ed McCullough:

Long story, short: I added the real-time online invoicing component to TMx. Then, I started playing around with it... and got no where! So I called Rizzo back, and said, "Show me how this thing works!"

He did. Now, it is a major component of my Critical Chain project management efforts. Do you have any idea how much time (and therefore, money) is wasted by starting on projects that should never have been released, simply due to inadequate project plans? I do.

Thousands of man-hours per year. Wasted.

Guess what? TMx is available for free. Yes. Free. A 100% complete and fully functional TMx is available (with a 30 day evaluation period) for download on Rizzo's web site:

Check it out. BTW (by the way), it is now light years ahead of what I first experienced just 90 days ago... but if you still cannot "make it work", Rizzo's email is included with the tool, and he encourages the end user to contact him with any questions. Or concerns.

Or enhancement requests.

-ski

P.S. Do check out the requirements section, it does not work with every possible configuration. And yes, I have asked for an Apple Mac version.

This link will take you to a "flash" enabled page, where you will see icons on the bottom of the page, each representing episodes of recent TV shows on Hilton Head Island. My episode is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2008 on Time Warner channel 3.

Look for the icon that says, "Purple Curve" or "Purple Effect" and simply click it.

Let me know what you think.

-ski

P.S. In case you did not know, Ed is also mentioned in my book, "Purple Curve Effect".

Monday, December 17, 2007

I have used VistaPrint for years. Free business cards, just pay (inflated) shipping costs. Loved them. Promoted them to others.

Well, I ordered some new biz cards, and they were to be delivered on 12/12/2008 via DHL. Great tracking online (via DHL), but I notice that my package was last scanned in Atlanta at 2:11am on the 12th, and during the day, it has not moved.

Not a good sign.

I call DHL.

"No delivery today sir, fogged in at Atlanta. It happens."

Okay. But why is it not moving? Call them back on the 13th, as it still shows the last activity on the 12th at 2:11am. "As soon as it hits the next center, it will be scanned." Long story, short: today is the 17th and DHL says it last saw my package at 2:11am on the 12th. DHL assures me that as soon as it shows up, they will call me.

I do not fault DHL. Too much. I tried to explain that someone should look in Atlanta for the package, but they really did not appreciate my suggestion. They have procedures to follow.

So, I call VistaPrint today.

Suggest that DHL has lost the package, and ask them to rush a re-printing through their shop. Which, I thought to be a reasonable request. Silly me.

"Sorry sir, your 14 days will not be 'up' until tomorrow."

In other words, even though DHL lost the package, and has not scanned it since the 12th in Atlanta (and I am no where near Atlanta), they will not take any action until the service option I paid for —14 day option— they will ignore me. Normally I do not pay extra for expidited shipping, but really needed these cards sooner (rather than later). That will teach me.

"So, you are telling me that I must call back tomorrow, and report the shipment lost?"

Yes, that is exactly the course of action required. However, he was quick to point out that he would make a note of our conversation, so I would not have to rely all the details to the 'service' representative all over again.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

I spent a few days in the Old West recently (and yet, thoughts of some sort of time warp flooded my mind) near Northfield, MN. Shadows of the Old West is worth checking out.

"We are a group of people dedicated to preserving the history of the Old West in North America. Based in Minnesota, we travel across America performing reenactments and wild west shows, we specialize in Sesquicentennial celebrations, street theater, cowboy and mounted re-enactments and portray a wide variety of historical personas and old west characters. Also available for corporate events, private events and fundraisers as well as small and silver screen work."

Friday, December 07, 2007

What are you passionate about? I would guess that I have owned close to one hundred cars. Not quite in my dad's league... but my heart is in the right place. Just as three motorcycles is about right (a bagger like the Kaw Vulcan Nomad, the Harley vRod, and the Buell 1125r), three autos is a great starting point.

For the road trip (300+ miles), I have yet to rival my Jaguar Vanden Plas. I still miss it, five years later. For boulevard stunts and late night Waffle House runs, the Merkur XR4Ti is still at the top of my list. Dated, methinks that the Viper might be a suitable replacement. Maybe not.

But for hopping around town or the short jaunt with the misses, the 2008 CTS has captured my imagination like no other. Cadillac took some of the sharp edges off, greatly improved the ride and handling, then refined the interior.

An American town car worthy of the chase.-ski

P.S. I am thinking the expression ought to be something like, "Mom, Apple Pie, and a new Cadillac CTS in every garage. The New American Dream."

P.P.S. No. I am not (yet) a spokesperson for Cadillac. But I am available. Makes me think, I was reading about the Cannon Ball run in a biz magazine recently... what a thrill: walk into a dealership in New York city, buy a new CTS right off the showroom floor, and head out to LA. Setting a new record along the way. No radar detectors. No real planning. Just a quick trip across America. Oh yea, sorry, that would require one to exceed the posted speed limits. Never mind.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

In this age of technology, it takes a lot to impress most of us. As it should. I wrote a passage in Purple Curve Effect concerning making purchases, where I asked a simple question:

Have you ever experiencedthe “perfect” anything rightout of the box?

That was before my Mac Mini... and the simple little remote that was included (at no additional charge). Never owned a Mac? No problem. In about one minute flat, you will wield the device as if it you were born with it!

Recently, working with a lot of presentations, I thought to my self (maybe out loud, I do not recall with 100% certainty), I need to buy a remote clicker to advance the slides of my presentation. Like you have seen on PCs used for meetings to advance slides.

But as quickly as that thought occurred to me, I smiled, and remarked that Steve Jobs surely foresaw this requirement... if not Jobs, someone working on the Mac team must have demanded this feature be embedded into this micro-sized remote.

Sure enough, grabbing the remote off the desktop, "click" and "ta da!"

Saturday, November 24, 2007

And in the spirit of giving, anyone buying two new copies from seller "consultski" online from amazon dot com (while supplies last!) will receive a prepaid $10 Starbucks card with the books.

Why?

First, to encourage you to buy the book. Second, to encourage you to give a copy to your boss, spouse, colleague (or fill_in_the_blank). Third, because it is the only book that I know of, other than the Bible, that will get the reader to take immediate action to improve the world around us.

It really is that simple. If everyone bought the book, actually two, in order to give one away, Christmas would be a time of a great revolution in America. One of success. Of victory over whatever circumstances have stood in your way and the way of those close to you.

Every time I read the book, I learn something new!

For years, I have toyed with the idea of opening a kiosk at the mall and selling copies of Purple Curve Effect. There would be a section of the kiosk devoted to "Success in Business" and, you guessed it, nothin' but copies of PCE. Another section on "Success in Marriage" with, yep, copies of only PCE. A section on "Victory over Adversity"... and more Purple Curve Effect books!

I have the rough draft of the sequel: STARTUPS: The Purple Curve Effect, but I want to take every opportunity to promote the original startup "leadership" guide. Once the first printing is gone, only eVersionswill be available. And that should occur by year's end...

Wally Bock's Three Star Leadership is must reading... for those serious about working on their business. His latest nugget: Knowing and Being by Michael Polanyi.-ski
FYI: Wally Bock is one of my LinkedIn colleagues... it pays to have smart friends.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Pulling off Interstate 95 at "Destination Daytona" and turning into the parking, the difference was apparent. In October, Biketoberfest was in full bloom, and it took me ten minutes to get parked. Gone now are all the cones, traffic cops, and the two thousand Harleys!

Wheeling a four wheel "cage" onto a lot full of motorcycles is always concern. Finding a parking spot on the end of the lot, away from the dings of other car doors was easy. Nearby was a Porsche Boxter. A great looking car, and at one point a car on my wish list. But the CTS really has exceeded my expectations.

As Dylan wraps up "Things have Changed" (how appropriate, another of life's sycronisities), I reach for my journal. The odometer agrees with my plan: 263 miles. Exactly. As the late, great Col. Hannibal Smith (of The A Team) would say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Now onto the mission: checking out the new Buell 1125R, the first water-cooled Buell. As I quickly walk through the store, I am reminded of the masses of bikers overfilling the store. Now almost all gone. But soon to return for Bike Week in March.

There it is: the 1125R.

Wow!

As with most things, the photos that I have seen just do not do it justice. It is wider than expected. Which seems to make it look shorter and closer to the ground. Thats when I notice the handlebars: clip ons, like the Firebolt. I prefer the more upright seating of the Lightning. Finally, a salesman appears and grants permission to straddle the 146HP beast.

Oh yea.

It would have been easy to simply cross the newest Buell off my dream list, that is right up to point when I sat on it. Too late. Any chance or test riding it? "No."

Harley-Davidson corporate figured out years ago, the test ride only cause more problems than not allowing them. The non-rider would get the idea one Saturday to buy a bike after his neighbor brought one home, rush into the dealership, and roll a $20,000 piece of art into a ball of junk. Ouch. One of the reasons Harley carts a tractor trailer full of new bikes from dealership to dealership, offering free rides. To those with proper gear. Including a motorcycle endorsement.

WIth a great full-color brochure in hand, I re-enter the CTS. It takes just a minute to update my journal, noting that the 1125R is worthy of the pursuit. And worthy of fielding the comment from my wife, "Why do you need another motorcycle?" The short answer is simply, because. Because I want one. Because it motivates me to do the work necessary to earn it. Because it is a great masterpiece of American ingenuity. Erik Buell is a master at capturing the imagination, and delivering on the promise of "owning the corners."

My first two Buells only served to reinforce the desire to own more of them. As the "sport bike" of the Harley-Davidson brand, the Buell is a most misunderstood bike. Up until now, they really could not hang with the metric sport bikes. The 1125R should change all that in March at the track on the other side of town. As an American, I am proud to own an American sport bike. I made the decision in the wake of the events of September 11th to embrace my heritage, and focus on American based products. Like my new Cadillac.

Beep-Beep.

My phone alerts to me to the fact that "dream building" time is up. Get to Starbucks, and then head over to Orlando to pickup my wife at the airport.

And don't be late!

(c)Copyright 2007 by Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey. All rights reserved.

Drafts are available by request to those that cannot wait until the book is complete.Simply write me a note at: ski@throughputpress.com

Sunday, November 11, 2007

NOTE: This is the draft of the first chapter of Startups: The Purple Curve Effect. The second book in the "Applying Common Sense" series by SKI.

STARTUPS: The Purple Curve Effectby Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah

Chapter One :: The Power of a List

Nothing like a hot shower to get the morning going. At least for me. Sunday. Again. Finally. As I dressed, the anticipation was getting the best of me. I started to race ahead towards the garage, but noticed the list posted on the glass patio door.

That view across the trees, out over the other wing of the complex, due east out to the Atlantic Ocean. Hilton Head Island will always be home. Hard to believe that just twelve weeks ago I decided on pursuing the new Cadillac CTS. I had been set on the Chrysler Pacifica. But with my return to consulting, the Caddy seemed more appropriate. A lot more fun to drive. Like today.

The List

1. Shower2. Shave (yes, do it anyway)3. Dress (never been quite that excited as to forget, but just in case!)4. Check weather channel (I hate surprises)5. Take computer6. Leave Kimber 9mm home (crossing state lines)7. Take shaving kit

Ah, the power of the list. How do people accomplish anything without one? Bottom line: they don't. I cannot believe more people have not picked up on that fact. That is why I made such a big deal of it in Purple Curve Effect. Oh well. As I opened the garage door, that new car smell overtook me. A deeply religious experience! Perhaps only to those of us in love with the American Muscle Car.

Black on black. Henry Ford got it right: any color you want, as long as you want black! With the fuel injected 304hp engine. Yokos bolted to the Craeger SS mags, a blast to my past when I could only afford two chrome rims for the RB. I discovered the Yokohomas for my first Merkur XR4Ti. Great tires for cornering.

The "RB" was a red & black 1968 Chevelle with a 396ci and 4-speed transmission. I remember saving my pennies for that Mr. Gasket V-Gate shifter... and the cop's reaction on my first test run. No ticket. Thanks Manny. I think he was as excited about the V-Gate as I was! Those were the good olde days.

The look on Shorty's face when I ordered the black CTS was priceless. Was this the third or fourth car we bought from him? "Black?" Yep. Black. Now, here it sat. Freshly detailed just yesterday. And with a full tank of petro.

Just 263 miles to Daytona Beach...

(c)Copyright 2007 by Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey. All rights reserved.Drafts are available by request to those that cannot wait until the book is complete.Simply write me a note at: ski@throughputpress.com

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Among the valuable lessons learned while in Las Vegas last weekend: it pays to have smart friends! I had just met James at a gathering of Constraints Management gurus, and was complaining about Amazon dot com and the poor treatment given to authors wanting to hawk their own books.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Life is what you make of it... no secret there. Or is it? I recently took time out to watch the movie, "The Secret." Guess what? It is right on!

How do I know? I live the secret every day!

My vRod is proof. My Merkur XR4Ti adventures. Living on Hilton Head Island, SC. After five plus years of retirement, I went back to work. Got a real job and everything. But building companies from the ground up is one of my real passions, and hence we are on the eve of the launch of Throughput.US LLC.

It chronicles the creation and launch of Throughput.US LLC in just 90 days... for those who want to jump onto the fast track. Heavy on Col. John Boyd's work, H. William Dettmer's Strategic Navigation, and of course Thayer and my Purple Curve Effect.

Can't wait for the hard copy? Drop me a line asking for a sneek peek at the rough draft.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

So much for an early start. I slept in. A rare event of late. But was on the road by 11am for what turned out to be a great ride and a lot of fun.

This is probably the sweet spot for a trip on the Harley-Davidson vRod. You can "run with the big dogs" like the 2008 Corvette that passed me, and yet find comfort with a pack of sport bikes. Of course, the 2004 vRod has a gas tank the size of a big gulp... great for a Cokee Cola, not so great for petro! The upside of a 100+mile tank is simple: after an hour or so of riding, a pit stop is in order.

Yet, I still managed to average a respectable 65.75mph for the trip down, pulling in Rossmeyer's "Destination Daytona" Harley-Davidson/Buell at 3pm... so cruising at 70mph, my pit stops must have been NASCAR worthy! {grin}

I cannot imagine not riding a motorcycle. Thanks Todd. I had gotten away from them for a while, stuck in the four wheeled cages of complacency... although the Merkur XR4Ti was a lot of fun to drive... till my second (notice I did not say my 'last') one burned to the ground. I now have ridden one or more of my motorcycles in 19 of the 50 United States of America. But I digress.

I experienced the 'Destination', met my son for a cup of coffee, and was back home by 10pm.

There were a lot of bikes... some good looking customs (nothing as cool as my all black & chrome Turismo Signature Edition), but only one worthy of consideration: a leftover Competition Red/Orange colored 2007 Buell XB12Ss with matching rims... at $8995, it would require the trading in of the vRod. Something to consider...

Saturday, October 13, 2007

The image that comes to my mind when I think about the Indian Motorcycle? Not the motorcycle and certainly not the company that is trying to recreate the legend.

It is Iron Eyes Cody. Probably most famous for his TV commercial asking Americans to stop littering.

It is with such disappointment that I watch the 'new' Indian motorcycle fiasco... the sour grapes warning is simple: I applied to Indian to serve as director of manufacturing back in 2005. Then again in 2006. Maybe even once early in 2007. See, back in 2004/2005, I was the Director of Manufacturing for Red Horse Motorworks.

I showed the organization how to double monthly production while I decreased WIP by 50%. Yes, you read that correctly. But I digress...

In late 2006 or very early 2007, Indian started taking deposits on 2008 motorcycles that were to ship in the fourth quarter of 2007. I knew they had yet to formalize a number of decisions required to actually produce bikes in time to honor that commitment.

Now we are told bikes will roll off the line late in 2008. Another promise.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Bill Dettmer is always sending me photos of the mountains in his back yard... and occasionally he includes one or more photos of an Eagle. Great stuff.

Well, yesterday afternoon at high tide, for no apparent reason, I decided to take some photos off my deck. It faces out across the Calabogie Sound. The sunlight was perfect. The water level perfect. The tempature... you get the idea.

Well, after I finish taking about 8 photos, I sit down and review them in the view finder. When I catch an American Eagle fly off a branch in front of me! Sure enough, I had captured him on film (electrons, actually) without even knowing it!

P.S. In case you did not know, CPM (Critical Path Method) is for skunkworks and other infinite resource environments... most businesses today live in the finite world of matrix management models. That basically explains why your projects are late. Remember: there is only one weakest link in any system.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Scott gives a great example of applying common sense to the world of competitive cage matches, when he explains,

"The opponent who cycles more slowly through the OODA Loop begins to feel farther and farther behind, like being sucked down a vortex: his options seem fewer, his reactions slower and less effective, his concentration scattered and his focus dim, his energy drains away and his success less likely (he feels more hopeless.)"